Quilting-frame for sewing-machines



(N0 Model.)

J. E. GIBBS. QUILTING FRAME FOR SEWING MACHINES.

No. 409,143. Patented Aug. 13; 1889.

Memes. 45200216021 mgzfi c M if "I/ I 7' I {y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES EDWVIN GIBBS, OF JONESBOROUGH, ASSIGNOR OF TIVO-THIRDS TO ELLIOT O. KIRKPATRICK AND THOMAS R. CHASE, OF JOHNSON CITY,

TENNESSEE.

QUILTING-FRAME FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,143, dated August 13, 1889.

Application filed February 5, 1889. Serial No. 298,708. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J AMEs EDWIN GIBBS, a citizen of the United States, residing at J onesborough, in the county of \Vashington and State of Tenn essee, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Quilting-Frames and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of my invention is the production of a simple and effective quilting-frame to be used as an attachment to a sewing-ma chine.

It is a well-known fact that quilting-frames of various descriptions have long been in use, and have been found to greatly facilitate the art of making quilts. I am also aware that frames for this purpose have been applied to sewing-machines; but this invention is an improvement 011 this class of frames, and pre sents a device particularly simple in its construction and effective in its operation.

The invention will be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification,Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved quiltingframe applied to a sewing-machine; Figs. 2 and 3, detail perspective views of ends of rollers with ratchet attachments; and Fig. 4:, an enlarged view of head of drum, in which is located a pawl constituting a part of the ratchet attachment.

Reference being had to the drawings and the letters thereon, A B indicate troughshaped tracks or guideways for supporting the frame when in use, and when in operative position are secured across the surface of the sewing-machine table at right angles thereto, with one half of each trackAandB on either side of the center, by any suitable clamping device, (not shown,) one which operates on the under side of the table, however, being preferred, so as to avoid scratching. Between the sides of said trough-shaped tracks A and B are j ournaled three or more frictionrollers a, for the purpose of aiding the truck or frame in its lateral movement. I

O D represent side bars of the peculiar form shown, each having a prong b, standing at an acute angle above said bar, and each having its rear end turned up at an angle of about forty-five degrees (45) for the purpose hereinafter described. The side bars 0 and D are joined by stays or braces E E, which braces move in the trough-shaped tracks A B, supported by the rollers a during the operation of quilting, and are secured therein by the swiveled staples f, and these members C, D, E, and F constitute the frame or body of the attachment.

The outer ends of the projecting portions of the side bars 0 D are slotted, as at c, d, and e, for the reception of the ends of rollers G, H, and I, and to enable' them to be adjusted therein. These rollers G, II, and I are preferably made square and are equipped with a narrow strip of fabric g, to which may be stitched one end of the several component parts of the quilt to be made.

One end of the rollers G, H, and I is provided with ordinary metallic journals, terminatin g wit-h a thumb-screw h, for securing that end of the rollers in any predetermined position in the slots 0 d 6, while the opposite ends of said rollers are provided with bearings and a ratchet device of the peculiar construction. shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, which I will now minutely describe. In the inner end of this ratchet attachment is formed a recess T for the reception of the end of the roller G, H, or I, which is secured in this position by the pin U, and may be lifted in or out of said recess T at will by first withdrawing the pin U, thus providing for the removal of the roller without taking the ratchet attachment from the slots 0 d 6, while the outer end is turned down in a lathe to form a spindle K, the outer end of which is in turn again reduced and squared, as at L.

M indicates a circular drum, which consists of two disks i It, connected by a hollow barrel Z, which has two sides thereof chamfered off, as shown at m. The disk is has a circular recess 71 in its outer end, in the periphery of which is cut a series of ratchet-teeth N.

0 indicates a cap or covering for the outer end of drum M, and from the inner side thereof projects a hub 0, through which extends a square opening p. 011 the inside surface of said cap 0 is pivoted a pawl P, the outer end of which en gages with the ratchet-teeth N for the purpose of preventing any back motion of the roller when in use. A leaf-spring q, secured at Q, also on the inner surface of cap 0, bears against the inner end of pawl P, holding it in engagement with ratchet-teeth N. Through the cap 0 extends a thumb-latch r, the inner end 8 of which is semicircular, as shown in Fig. 4, and serves to disengage the pawl when desired by forcing the inner end of same up and the outer down.

In constructing this ratchet attachment the several parts go together in the order in which they are shown in Figs. 2 and 3, viz: Drum M is first slipped over spindle K, which spindle will then turn freely therein. The pawl P having been adjusted as shown in Fig. 4, cap 0 is then placed over the end of the disk 7:, the square opening 12 therein receiving the square end L of the roller G, II, or I, and the whole secured and retained in this position by means of a washer R and pin S, the latter passing through an opening in the squared end L of the rollers. The rollers G, H, and I being provided with this ratchet attachment and placed in the positions shown in Fig. 1, with the flattened sides m of the hollow barrel 1 in engagement with the slots 0 d c, it is obvious will revolve freely in one direction, and maybe turned in the opposite direction, if desired, by disengaging the pawl P in the manner described.

The operation is as follows: The material intended as the cover of the quilt is stitched or basted to the strip of fabric 9 on the roller G. In the same manner the material intended for the lining is secured to the strip of fabric 011 roller H. When a snflicient quantity of materials to form the cover and lining of the quilt have been wound upon said rollers, the free ends of both are carried back under the presser-foot of the sewing-machine and secured in like manner to the roller I. The sides of the material may be held taut by the hooks shown on the inner side of side bars 0 I). Qotton batting or wadding is now introduced between the cover and lining from the front of the frame, the machine started, and a row of stitches run across the quilt parallel to the length of the frame, the entire frame being propelled automatically across the sewing-machine table by the action of the feeder of the machine on the under side of the quilt. As each row of stitches is completed, the rollers G 11 are released one turn and the roller I taken up one, thus taking up the slack in the quilt. After similar parallel rows have been run throughout the length of the quilt it is taken from the frame and again placed upon the rollers at right angles to its first po sition, and the same operation repeated, resulting in a series of rows of stitches at right angles to the first set.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is The combination of a quilting-frame, tracks or ways A B, supported by the table of a sewing-machine and provided with suitable friction-rollers, and swiveled staples for holding the frame in said guideways, and rollers G, II, and I for holding the material and completed article, each made in two sections, one of which carries a ratchet attachment on its outer end, and on its inner end is provided with a recess T, having one open side to receive the other section of the roller, which is detachably secured therein, whereby the rollers may be removed from the frame withoutremoving the ratchet portion, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES ED\YIN GIBBS.

\Vitnesses:

A. DEADERICK, J. A. PIERCE. 

